UN General Assembly to vote on Palestinian statehood today

World

Published: 2024-05-10 12:08

Last Updated: 2024-05-20 21:55


The United Nations General Assembly meeting room inside the UN headquarters. (September 4, 2015) (New York, US) (Photo: Getty)
The United Nations General Assembly meeting room inside the UN headquarters. (September 4, 2015) (New York, US) (Photo: Getty)

The United Nations General Assembly is expected to vote Friday on a draft resolution for Palestine to be granted full members status within the UN.

The votes comes after a United States veto foiled a resolution in the Security Council earlier on April 18.

Palestine currently has a “non-member observer state” status with the UN, and has been seeking a full membership in the United Nations since 2011.

The resolution is more likely to gain support in the UN General Assembly. If it passes; a recommendation will be made to the Security Council to “reconsider the matter favorably” – according to the text.

The draft resolution, which was introduced by the United Arab Emirates, says "the State of Palestine is qualified for membership in the United Nations in accordance with article 4 of the Charter and should therefore be admitted."

The draft resolution nonetheless gives Palestine certain "additional rights and privileges" starting in the next session of the General Assembly, in September.

The text explicitly rules out letting them be chosen to sit on the Security Council or to vote in the General Assembly, but would allow them to submit proposals and amendments directly, without having to go through another country as it is doing now.

The Security Council is not expected to pass the draft resolution unlike the General Assembly; as the United States vehemently opposes any recognition of Palestine outside of an agreement with the Israeli Occupation – per its claims.

Both “Israel” and the United States criticized the UAE’s initiative, and expressed both their reservations and concern.